That's why when my husband and wife visit abroad, they don't just visit palaces and meet heads of state. We also come to school to meet students like you.
Because we believe that the relationship between countries is not only the relationship between governments or leaders, but also the relationship between people, especially young people.
Therefore, we believe that studying abroad is not only an educational opportunity for students, but also a vital part of American foreign policy.
"Reading thousands of books is better than taking Wan Li Road."
You see, through the miracle of modern technology, our world is more closely linked than ever before.
Creativity can cross the ocean by clicking the button. Companies all over the world can do business and compete with each other. We can communicate with people on all continents through SMS, email and Skype.
Therefore, studying abroad is not just a happy semester, it is rapidly becoming the key to success in the global economy.
Because to be at the forefront of today's workplace, it is not enough to get good grades in school, but also to have real experience abroad: to experience a completely different language, culture and society.
There is an old saying in China that it is better to read thousands of books than to take Wan Li Road.
What I want to say is that studying abroad is not only to improve your future, but also to shape the future of your country and our world.
Because the decisive challenges of our times-whether climate change, economic opportunities or the proliferation of nuclear weapons-are all challenges we face together.
No country can deal with them alone ... the only way out is to join hands.
"* * * hand in hand"
This is why it is so important for young people to study and live in each other's countries. Because this is how you cultivate the habit of cooperation-you do this by integrating into different cultures, by understanding each other's stories, and by crossing the prejudices and misunderstandings that often separate us.
This is a way to let you know how much we enjoy it. This is how you realize that our success is beneficial to each other. The governance methods found in Beijing can save lives in the United States, the clean energy technology from Silicon Valley in California can improve the environment in China, and the building of an ancient temple in Xi 'an can inspire the design of new buildings in Dallas or Detroit.
This is the time when the contacts you have established with your classmates and lab partners can bring more gains. When Abigail Coplin became an American Fulbright scholar in Peking University, she and her colleagues published papers in leading scientific journals and established a research partnership, which lasted for a long time after their respective return to China.
Professor Niu Ke from Peking University was a Fulbright scholar in the United States last year. I quoted him as saying, "The most unforgettable experience was being with my American friends."
These long-term contacts represent the real value of studying abroad. I am very excited. More and more students get such opportunities.
Michelle talks about studying abroad.
China is currently the fifth most popular destination for Americans to study abroad. In the United States today, the number of exchange students from China is the largest.
However, too many students have never had such an opportunity, while some students who have the opportunity hesitate to seize it.
They may think that studying abroad is only for rich students or students in some universities. Or, they may say to themselves, "Well, it sounds interesting, but how useful is it in my life?"
I understand these young people because I felt the same way in college. You know, I came from a working-class family and never even thought about studying abroad. My parents didn't go to college, so I concentrated on going to college and getting a degree so that I could find a job and support myself.
For many young people like me who can afford an ordinary semester through hard work, it is really impossible to pay for air tickets or living expenses on the other side of the world. This is unacceptable, because studying abroad should not only belong to students with some backgrounds.
We hope to establish contacts between people of all races and socio-economic backgrounds, because it is this diversity that makes our country so dynamic and powerful ... Our overseas study programs should reflect the true spirit of the United States to the world.
That's why when my husband visited China in 2009, he announced our 65,438+000,000 initiative, aiming at increasing the number and diversity of American students studying in China. This year, as we commemorate the 35th anniversary of the normalization of Sino-US relations ... the US government actually supports more American students to study in China.
We are sending high school students, college students and graduate students here to learn Chinese. We invited Mr. China to teach Mandarin in a taste school in America. We provide free online consultation for China students who want to study in the United States. Fulbright programs in the United States and China are still strengthening, with more than 3,000 alumni.
The private sector is also stepping up its efforts. For example, steve schwarzman, the head of Blackstone, USA, is funding a new project in Tsinghua University to imitate the Rhodes Scholarship.
"You don't need to get on a plane to become a citizen diplomat."
Today, students from different backgrounds are studying in China. Take Royal from Cleveland, Ohio as an example. She participated in the Shanghai project of new york University. Royal, like me, is the first generation of college students in her family. Her mother works two full-time jobs, while her father works at night to support their family. When talking about her experience in Shanghai, she said: "This city is full of resilience, which inspires me to accomplish everything I can."
And Friedman Hale of the University of Washington. When he was a child, his family came to America as Eritrean refugees. When talking about his experience of studying in China, he said: "As we enter a new era of citizen diplomacy, studying abroad is a powerful tool for people-to-people exchanges."
"A new era of citizen diplomacy"-I can't think of a better way to put it, because this is exactly what I am talking about, that is, ordinary citizens go global.
As I often tell young Americans, you don't need to get on a plane to become a citizen diplomat.
I told them that if you can surf the Internet at home, school or library, you can be taken anywhere in the world and meet people from every continent in just a few seconds.
That's why I send a travel blog post every day, which contains videos and photos of my trip to China-because I hope young people in the United States can be part of this visit.
This is indeed the power of technology-it has opened the whole world and exposed us to previously unimaginable ideas and innovations. This is why the free flow of information and ideas on the Internet and the media is so important.
Because this is how we discover the truth, which enables us to understand what is happening in our community, our country and our world.
This is why we decide which values and ideas are the best-by vigorously questioning, debating, listening to the views of all parties and making our own judgments.
Believe me, I know this is a confusing and frustrating process. Our media and citizens have raised many questions and criticisms, and my husband and I are the affected party. This is not easy, but we think its importance is irreplaceable.
Because we have seen time and time again that when the voices and opinions of all citizens can be heard, the country will become stronger and more prosperous.
As my husband once said, we respect the uniqueness of other cultures and societies. However, as far as freedom of self-expression, freedom of choosing beliefs and freedom of access to information disclosure are concerned, we believe that this is the birthright of everyone on earth.
"American face", "Chinese face"
We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to realize their maximum potential, just like I did in America. At the same time, when you learn new cultures and make new friends in China and the United States, you are a vivid representative of these values.
So I promise that by studying abroad, you are not only changing your life, but also changing the life of everyone you meet.
As the great American President John F. Kennedy said when talking about foreign students studying in the United States, "I think they teach more than they learn." The same is true of young Americans studying abroad.
To the world, you are the best American faces and the best face of china. Every day, you are showing the world the vitality, creativity, optimism and unshakable belief in the future of your country. Every day, you remind us that by crossing national boundaries, we can learn to see ourselves in each other and meet challenges with the same determination.
So, I hope you will continue to seek this experience. I hope you can continue to benefit from each other, learn from each other, and establish friendship ties, which will enrich your lives and our world in the coming decades.
All of you can make a lot of contributions to the world, and I earnestly look forward to your outstanding achievements.